THE POWER WITHIN

Lunette is all about liberation. We’re advocates of individuality without selfishness, community without conformity and of course equality for all. You don’t need anyone to “empower” you, because you already have the power within to liberate yourself from external expectations, limitations and period care products that are bad for your body and the environment.

Our Journal

Lunette’s mission this year is all about #PeriodPower! For the past few weeks we’ve been talking a lot about why periods are powerful, how we can start to break the taboos and spreading the word on social media.
Which is all well and good but….does anyone else feel a bit disheartened by it all? We believe it’s so important to share the realities of how people’s quality of life can be negatively affected by menstruation all over the world and, crucially, how it doesn’t have to be like that at all!
But it can feel a like a big problem. As an international company of passionate people we’re still constantly asking ourselves “how can we do more?”.
As individuals it can feel a whole lot more overwhelming. How can we change the conversation around periods? How can we help our fellow menstruators have better periods and change our cultures to ditch the taboos?
And after a turbulent year to say the least, politically, economically, and for real some super weird stuff happening on Twitter...it can all just feel like too much for any one person.
But there are some things you can do in your day to day, big and small, that can make a massive difference and help promote #PeriodPower.
What you can do
Talk about periods!
You would not believe the affect a simple conversation can have on someone else’s experiences and attitudes. When we talk about taboos we start to break them down! Read our latest blog post on how to talk about periods.
Join in online
Whether you love or loathe social media there’s no denying it can be one of our greatest tools in shaping our culture. It really does give a voice to those people and causes that might not normally have one. Follow period positive thought leaders online, get involved with the hashtags and use your channels to spread the positive vibes.
Here are some for you to start with:
#PeriodPower#PeriodPositive#PeriodPoverty#PeriodProblems (because sharing is caring yo)
(Psst! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for all the latest period power inspiration)
Stay informed
Knowledge is power! Especially when that knowledge spreads and ends up in the hands of those who really need it the most. Still not totally sure when to use the word vulva or vagina? Or what exactly is going on during the whole of your menstrual cycle? You are not alone, don’t worry. Now is the time to own that period knowledge!Check out the Learn section of the Lunette website and our blog for more.
Find local organisations
You’d be surprised what is already happening on your doorstep in the name of #PeriodPower! Whether it’s places you can donate to, promote or support in whatever way you can, you never know what a difference you can be making for someone.
On your next coffee break have a quick Google around or see which organisations are using the hashtags we mentioned earlier.
Can’t find anything? Start your own! Most of these great initiatives started off as a small group of like minded people who just wanted to collect and donate supplies to food banks or charities. Any contribution makes a HUGE difference to someone.)
Get political
Because when we change laws and legislation, we change the lives of everyone, not just the few. For example, not long ago Scotland became the first country in the world to promise to provide period products in all schools, colleges and universities. Our voices and votes really do matter!
Make sure your representative in parliament is keyed up on these issues, attend protests and keep spreading the word.
Vote with your wallet
When you buy products from a brand you are also supporting their missions and values. So be sure to choose companies and organisations who you trust and have the best at heart! How are they talking about periods? Are they inclusive in how they talk about them? How do they support other organisations and charities?
Look after yourself
...especially during your period! We can’t change the world in a day and sometimes the little stuff we do is enough. Even by reading this blog post you’re taking the time to support an important movement and that’s a great thing.
Remember, we can help others most when we feel at our best in both body and mind!
Any others ways you can think to support #PeriodPower and period positivity? Got a favourite organisation we can help promote?
Keep in touch with us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and don’t forget to follow the #PeriodPower hashtag.

The year of #PeriodPower is here! Recently we talked about what Period Power means and why this topic is SO important...now more than ever!
So, great. Let’s spread the word and get everyone talking positively about periods… :D
via GIPHY
...erm, is it me or did things just get SUPER awkward?
Yup we feels you. Periods are commonplace, normal and healthy but gosh darn they can still feel super weird to talk about. If you’ve been following us for a while or are a seasoned menstrual cup user then you’re probably more familiar with the topic than most (go team!) but the reality of the situation is that periods are still a taboo subject and most of us really REALLY don’t like talking about them.
Why talking about periods is important.
Because the best way to start dispelling taboos is to talk about them! If periods are seen as “gross”, shameful and secretive then that means:
Those who have them are made to feel gross and ashamed (... as if women and menstruating individuals don’t face enough inclusivity issues in society as it is)
People will find it more difficult to access the education, products and support systems they need
The power periods have in society will remain inherently negative and difficult for us to improve the quality of life for over half the population on the planet.
You never know when an open conversation can help someone close to you, without even realising.
How to talk about periods
So how can we bring more people in to this conversation in a way that brings more positive period power?
Ignore your red cheeks & ditch the shame (or try)
Because it’s not just what you say but how you say it. By letting any embarrassment feelings shine through you are signalling to others that they should feel embarrassed too. Be the positive example in your group of friends and beyond...you never know who’s attitudes you might be changing.
Talk to your brother, your father and the postman if you want
OK, depending on your relationship with the postman this could still be borderline TMI. But it’s super important that the topic of periods isn’t kept within the groups of people who menstruate. If we really want to change cultures then we have to include everyone...including your dad.
Use the correct terminology
Don’t get us wrong, we enjoy a funny creative euphemism now and again but avoiding words like “period”, “menstruation” and even “blood” means that we see them as “bad” or “gross” words, thus perpetuating the shame around it.
Own those words and you’ll begin to own your period more.
Be inclusive
Because people who menstruate aren’t just cis-gender women who look like the model on the tampon box (Check out our blog post on gender and period care products.) Lots of different people menstruate and it’s crucial that they are made to feel just as much a part of the conversation.
Remember not everyone’s periods are the same
All of our bodies are set up differently and it can be easy to talk about periods like everyone sits in to the averages of experience. What might make sense and work for you may not be the best for someone else. This is why listening to lots of different people share their experiences is so important.
Stay informed!
Follow period positive leaders and organisations on social media so you can learn more and stay inspired. When you are surrounded by period positive messages it gets even easier to spread the good vibes :)
Speaking of Social Media, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as we continue the #PeriodPower talk this year.

Raise your hand if you’re ready to talk about periods...like REALLY talk about them. You there feeling shy in the back row, we’re especially talking to YOU.
At the end of last year we reflected on how periods finally got woke. Now it’s time to see how powerful they can be.
You might have noticed, depending on your social media bubble, that all things period talk, menstrual cup movements and all around #PeriodPositive momentums are on the rise. From the fight against the absurd #TamponTax, bringing light to #PeriodPoverty in ALL parts of the world (including where you are) and pushing hard against the archaic stigma and harmful taboos that need to be left where they belong...in the past.
But let’s take a step back.
Why are periods making the news? Why are they taking people to the streets in protest? Why is a normal bodily function that has been around as long as we have the catalyst for social movements?
Why are we talking #PeriodPower?
Why are periods powerful?
Yes, periods are normal. Periods are powerful because they are normal. When we stigmatise or exalt a commonplace trait of being human we are deciding who has access to a safe and dignified world and who doesn’t.
For many of us, especially living in Western countries, it’s hard to imagine that so many people all over the world do NOT have access to dignity, health or education simply because they have their period. But it is happening and it is on our doorstep.
Periods and society
Historically and including through all the main secular religions, periods and those experiencing them at the time, have been seen as “unclean”. What this means is that, at some point or another and with no control of their own, around half of the population are perceived and treated as “lesser” people.
Today, we still see the extreme version of this where in some countries girls and women miss out on work, schooling and even banished from their home because they are on their period. But even in Europe and countries like the UK and US, period poverty, access to choice and education and period shaming are still a big problem.
Periods and language
One of the reasons why this is happening is because of how we talk about it (or, a lot of the time, how we don’t talk about it). How we talk about things in our world is one of the biggest indicators and influencers of how we perceive and treat the world and people around us.
The fact that so many people feel uncomfortable even mentioning the word “period” or “menstruation” (ever noticed how many euphemisms we have for it? I’m looking at you Aunt Flo!) or simply don’t want to talk about it at all.
Or that, when people DO talk about periods, we often hear it being described as “gross”, “embarrassing” or the topic being “un-ladylike” (don’t get us started on that phrase).
Language helps shape our world and periods have enough weight to shape our language.
Periods and health
When topics are off the table or are misrepresented then it means access to relevant education, choice and proper healthcare is too. Right now there are people all over the world who are too afraid to talk to their doctor, who do not have access to safe and hygienic period products, who are putting their bodies in sometimes dangerous situations because the stigma and lack of education and awareness is all too real.
Periods and politics
This is why periods are powerfully political. They are part of life for around half the population, impact us regularly and yet the political discourse, laws and legislations often do not reflect this. When we are denied access to information and period products then this affects our health, our wellbeing at the workplace and even access to schooling.At the #FreePeriods protest in London last December, female politicians spoke of feeling unable to bring up the topic of periods in parliament because of negative reactions from their peers.
Imagine what it’s like in political systems where gender and overall inclusivity is less.
Periods and equality
So, when periods affect how people are viewed, treated, their health, their access to education or the workplace then they are powerfully linked to equality.
If we truly want gender equality (or equality for those who have periods but identify as a different gender) or simply equality for half the darned population who happen to menstruate, then we need to talk periods. Like REALLY talk periods.
Lunette and #PeriodPower
Yes, we love menstrual cups (and make darned good ones too) but an overarching mission of ours is to change the conversation around periods and help bring about positive change.
That’s why this year we’ll be focusing on bringing awareness to #PeriodPower and how it affects us all. This includes dropping some truth bombs about the realities some people face when on their period as well as putting more light on how we talk about periods that includes more people, genders, cultures and body types. We’ll also be talking about how periods specifically affect people in prisons, the corporate work life, education and homelessness.
Because this isn’t just a conversation for the feminists and the hippies. #PeriodPower affects us all.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as well as the hashtag #PeriodPower as we keep the conversation going!